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Quartz
- Your Hardest Choice in Countertops
photos courtesy of Silestone.com
Time is precious. Whether you're a young mother
trying to keep up with preschoolers, a busy career woman or
an active retiree, you're probably looking for ways to carve
out more time to do the things that matter most to you.
Perhaps that’s why quartz surfacing has
become the fastest-growing countertop
material in the United States. With the distinctive depth
and glimmering radiance
of natural stone, this material offers easier maintenance
than granite, marble
or limestone.
Ninety-three percent of this surface is real quartz, compared
to a quartz content
of 40% or less found in natural granite. According to Monica
Canales, Marketing
Director for Silestone® by Cosentino, one of the leading
companies marketing natural quartz in the United States, only
three natural materials – diamonds, topaz and sapphires
– are harder than quartz. This gives quartz surfaces
a strength that is less susceptible than granite to scratches,
chips and cracks when keys, knives or toys are dropped on
the surface.
Not only does natural granite contain less quartz than its
manufactured counterpart, it also has air pockets which make
it a porous product, requiring some form of sealant for use
as a countertop (applied every year or two). In contrast,
air pockets are removed during the manufacturing process of
quartz aggregates, when quartz particles are combined with
pigments and polyresins in a vacuum compression system. This
creates a non-porous surface, which according to Canales will
not be penetrated by soft drinks, wine, vinegar, olive oil,
lemon juice, ink, crayons, makeup, perfume, hair spray or
nail polish. “No sealing is necessary. Clean-up is simple
– just warm, soapy water or basic household cleaners.
It is really a hassle-free surface,” Canales concludes.
Its non-absorbency also inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold
and mildew, making it an excellent choice for food preparation
surfaces.
Popular for over a decade in Europe, quartz surfaces were
introduced in North America a few years ago. Most of the product
sold here is manufactured in Canada, Israel and Spain. Originally
used for kitchen countertops and backsplashes, quartz surfacing
has branched out to bathroom vanities, tub and fireplace surrounds,
table tops, wet bars, wall cladding and floor tiles (which
can be combined to create patterns).
Not only will engineered quartz hold up over the years, its
natural looks won’t go out of style. Its colors and
patterns are more consistent than natural stone, which means
homeowners can rely on the showroom color to be true to what
is delivered...and they can match different elements perfectly.
Cosentino alone currently offers 45 colors of its Silestone
surfacing, in a wide variety of styles – from solid
to particulate patterns, from sparkling to muted. Cambria®,
CaesarStone® and DuPont’sTM Zodiaq® offer their
own choices.
It should be noted that large applications may require seams
comprised of an epoxy color matched to the rest of the stone.
(This would be true of any stone product, but not true of
solid surface products that can be melted together.)
Although these quartz surfaces are extremely durable, they
are not indestructible. It is possible to damage them if force
is applied to a sharp object. While they resist damage from
heat, the use of a hot pad or trivet is recommended. (All
natural stone surfaces can suffer thermal shock from sudden
temperature changes or heat build-up in a small area.) Caustic
chemicals, such as oven cleaners, drain openers and floor
strippers may also damage them. And long-term, direct exposure
to sunlight can cause slight fading.
As with any type of countertop material, the cost of quartz
surfaces will vary according to grade and style. But considering
the multitude of options out there today, it just might be
the wisest of all your hardchoices.
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